Photo: Baldauf / Aston Martin / modified
Aston Martin has used the Vanquish name twice so far. In 2001, the V12 Vanquish made famous by 007 in Die Another Day marked a new beginning for the British brand, as it debuted a bonded aluminum composite chassis with a carbon fiber backbone that would be adapted to the VH platform.
VH Generation I debuted in the stunning DB9, while the second coming of the Vanquish was bolstered by the VH Generation III. With the introduction of the DB11 in 2016 for the 2017 model year, Aston Martin began to move away from the Vertical Horizontal architecture in favor of the Second Century platform, which moves from the extrusions of its predecessor to stampings.
Later in 2024 for the 2025 model year, the Vanquish will return once again. It will be a different beast to its free-breathing predecessors, as Aston Martin has re-engineered the DB11 and Vantage’s 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 specifically for this application.
The Gaydon-based manufacturer first confirmed the revised engine in May 2024 via a press release. “Everyone will be defeated” is how the press release ends, a message that obviously refers to the name of the model. Aston Martin recently uploaded a teaser image containing this phrase to social media, indicating that we are getting closer to the big reveal of the 2025 Vanquish.
How close is, sadly, a mystery for now. However, everyone and their dog knows that Aston Martin will drop the Vanquish by the end of 2024, with deliveries starting in the first half of 2025. Based on the DB12 that replaces the DB11, the 2025 Vanquish sports a wider front grille, revised taillights and quad exhaust tips.
Photo: SH Proshots
AML-branded Michelin rubber is on the menu, which is no surprise as Pilot Sport 5 S tires are featured on the DB12 and revised Vantage. It’s unclear whether the Vanquish will get wider shoes than the DB12 and Vantage, with those models boasting 315/30 and 325/30 rear tires on 21-inch wheels respectively.
Similar to its platform siblings and the DBX, the Vanquish offers touchscreen infotainment with multi-finger gesture control. Potential customers should also expect wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as physical buttons and switches for devices such as Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, driving modes and so on. The DB12 and Vantage’s 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system further sweetens the deal with satellite view for the integrated sat-nav system, along with over-the-air diagnostics and updates.
While a manual gearbox is unlikely, the automatic supplied by ZF in the DB12 and V8-powered Vantage is more than adequate for this application. There is a slim chance of a manual gearbox, however, as Aston Martin's limited-edition Valor combines a row-your-own transmission with the AE31 twin-turbo V12.
Aston Martin hasn’t revealed the internal codename for the new twelve, which promises 835 metric horsepower and 720 pound-feet of torque. That’s a Ferrari 12Cylinder-shaming 824 horsepower and BMW XM Label-esque 738 pound-feet of torque, making the 2025 Vanquish a tempting proposition in the high-performance luxury grand tourer segment. At Bentley, the Continental GT Speed makes 782 hp (771 PS) and similar torque from a plug-in hybrid twin-turbo V8 setup.